While outbreaks of COVID-19 in nursing homes across the country are in the news–and have been for months—it’s important not to lose sight of other dangers which can affect seniors. Nursing home abuse and negligence in nursing homes in Hialeah, Homestead and other communities, for example, continues to be a concern.
In fact, nursing home abuse and negligence may get worse during the COVID-19 pandemic for a few reasons:
It’s one of the most difficult situations for any family: you’ve placed a loved one in a nursing home in Hollywood or another South Florida community and now you have suspicions that nursing home abuse or neglect is taking place. In many cases, families second-guess their instincts and wonder whether abuse really is taking place.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to tell when something is wrong. Residents of nursing homes may have cognitive impairment, dementia or other conditions which make it difficult for them to communicate their concerns fully. Nursing homes may easily dismiss accusations as confusion, poor communication, or other issues related to a diagnosis of dementia or another condition. In addition, nursing home residents are often fearful about speaking up against their abusers. They may fear repercussions or may feel ashamed by what is going on.
If you have an elderly parent or relative who needs additional help and lives in a nursing home, you may want to speak to them about nursing home safety. While many nursing homes in Homestead and across South Florida do take great care in providing safe and supportive environments, some nursing homes have been found liable for unsafe condition or have been cited by authorities for failing to provide safe conditions.
Since your elderly loved one is in the nursing home day after day, they are in an ideal position to take an active role in preventing injuries and in helping you to uncover any possible negligence on the part of the nursing home. There are several conversations you will want to have with your elderly loved one as they enter a nursing home:
For families with an elderly loved one who needs care, nursing homes provide one option for providing adequate levels of support. Nursing homes are supposed to be safe environments where residents can get additional 24/7 care and medical attention their families may not be able to provide. However, for many families the decision is a difficult one.
It is especially difficult to make that decision when families worry about Hollywood nursing home abuse and negligence. Unfortunately, their worries are not unfounded. Some residents do suffer subpar care, abuse, or dangerous levels of neglect which can impact safety and dignity. When a nursing home is needed to provide levels of care not feasible with family caretakers, there are a few ways to select a care environment to reduce the risk of nursing home negligence:
Ageism is a form of bias based on age and unfortunately the elderly often bear the brunt of this prejudice. Unfortunately, some people assume the elderly get easily lost or confused and this bias can be very dangerous in a nursing home setting. In some cases, it can even be used to hide Hollywood nursing home abuse and negligence.
Ageism and bias can show up in many ways:
When nursing home abuse occurs in Hollywood or Florida and affects your family, of course your first worry is the safety and well-being of your loved one. However, at this difficult time, it is also important to consider the financial impact of the abuse, since you will need financial resources to truly help your family member.
The cost of nursing home abuse may be much higher than many people think. Nursing home abuse costs can include:
Nursing homes in Hollywood and the rest of Florida are expected to provide quality nutrition as well as a safe environment for residents. Food is an important part of a senior’s well-being, especially since nutritious food can help them thrive the most.
Unfortunately, food poisoning can occur in nursing homes and does happen. Some nursing homes try to save on food costs by purchasing discounted foods and may end up purchasing expired items. In other cases, incorrect staff training, poor maintenance of kitchen areas, or high staff turnover can contribute to poor food handling or food storage, which can lead to food poisoning.
Nursing homes often contain hundreds of residents, and unfortunately this requires careful attention and precaution to prevent outbreaks. When contagions allowed to spread in nursing homes, fatalities can result. Outbreaks in nursing homes of norovirus, the flu, and other communicable diseases can take the lives of patients and can affect staff safety.
There are many things that nursing homes can do to prevent outbreaks:
Nursing homes in Hollywood are supposed to be safe places for those who cannot care for themselves. Unfortunately, abuse and injuries can occur in these environments and while the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and other agencies are supposed to keep an eye out for violence and dangerous conditions in South Florida nursing homes, abuse and neglect can happen.
Violence is one type of situation which can lead to injuries and even fatalities in nursing homes. Violence in nursing homes can stem from many situations, including:
As people age, the ability of the body to heal itself becomes less robust. At the same time, elderly people with pre-existing conditions or conditions which limit mobility may be more prone to wounds. For these reasons, it is doubly important for nursing homes to take precautions to treat wounds correctly, to prevent serious complications. When nursing home abuse and neglect occur in Hollywood and other parts of Florida, improper wound care can lead to infections, sepsis, and even fatalities.
Understanding Wounds Sustained by Elderly Residents
Florida Injury Lawyer Blog